Centrifugal clutch

Abstract

The utility model discloses a centrifugal clutch which comprises a driven disc, a round notch is formed in the driven disc, a bearing is fixed in the driven disc, a driving shaft is fixed to the inner ring of the bearing, a set of driving blocks are fixed to the driving shaft, a set of fan-shaped blocks are connected to the driving shaft in an inserted mode, an arc groove is formed in each fan-shaped block, and a through hole is formed in each fan-shaped block. Each driving block penetrates through the corresponding arc groove and is matched with the corresponding through hole, an arc notch is formed in the end face of each fan-shaped block, an arc groove is formed in the end face of each notch, and an annular spring is arranged at the side end of the driving shaft. A first friction plate is fixed in the circular notch, and a second friction plate is fixed on the outer contour of each fan-shaped block; the driven disc is provided with a belt groove, and the driving shaft is provided with a key groove. The power output device is ingenious and reasonable in structural design, centrifugal force is used for enabling the fan-shaped blocks to move and enabling the second friction plates to make contact with the first friction plates, so that power output by the driving shaft drives the driven disc to rotate, power is output, and the power output device is worthy of application and popularization.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of clutches, and more particularly to a centrifugal clutch. Background Technology

[0002] In existing operating environments, centrifugal clutches that operate in response to operating speeds, such as overspeed brakes in certain lifting equipment like elevators and inclined shaft mine cars, and in vehicles without clutch pedals, all rely on the friction between the centrifugal body and the driven component to transmit torque and achieve automatic engagement or disengagement of the driving and driven components. However, a significant problem with existing centrifugal clutches is that they require high speeds (requiring large centrifugal forces) and can only withstand low engine torque. This can lead to unstable power output, slippage, and clutch burnout, limiting their application scenarios.

[0003] Chinese utility model patent CNCN 205278154 U discloses an electromagnetic induction centrifugal clutch. This clutch includes a drive shaft and a driven housing. The drive shaft is connected to an external power shaft and has at least four protrusions evenly distributed circumferentially. The driven housing has grooves of the same number as the protrusions, with each groove opposite to one of the protrusions. A DC excitation winding coil is placed within each groove. When the DC excitation winding is energized, the magnetic field generated passes sequentially through the driven housing, the air gap, the protrusions, and the air gap, finally returning to the driven housing to form a closed loop. A speed sensor for detecting the drive shaft's rotational speed is also provided on the drive shaft. This clutch has low torque capacity, a complex structure, and is not suitable for long-term use. Utility Model Content

[0004] This utility model aims to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a centrifugal clutch that offers rapid power response, smooth power transmission to prevent vehicle vibration during startup and operation, automatic power output via centrifugal force without the need for a clutch pedal, and high transmission torque. This meets the requirements of strong clutch output force, stable power output, automatic power output via centrifugal force without the need for a clutch pedal, and high transmission torque.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by this utility model to solve its technical problem is as follows: This centrifugal clutch includes a driven plate with a circular notch. A first bearing is installed inside the driven plate, and a drive shaft is fixed at the inner ring of the first bearing. A set of driving blocks evenly distributed along the center of the drive shaft are fixed on the drive shaft. A set of sector blocks located at the circular notch are inserted into the drive shaft. Each sector block has a circular arc groove and a through hole that extends longitudinally through the circular arc. The driving block passes through the circular arc groove and fits into the through hole. Each sector block has a circular arc notch on its end face and a circular arc groove on the end face of each notch. A ring spring is provided on the side end of the drive shaft and sleeved in each circular arc groove. A first friction plate is fixed inside the circular notch, and a second friction plate is fixed on the outer contour of each sector block. A belt groove is opened on the driven plate, and a keyway is opened on the drive shaft. The circular notch and the first bearing here serve to mount the drive shaft into the circular notch. The drive block, sector blocks, arc groove, through hole, and arc notch here allow the sector blocks to be inserted into the drive block, enabling the drive shaft to move outwards due to centrifugal force when rotating at high speed. The arc groove and ring spring here allow the sector blocks to return to their original position when the drive shaft speed decreases, thus allowing the second friction plates to disengage from the first friction plates, and consequently, disengaging the power output from the drive shaft from the driven plate. The first and second friction plates here provide strong frictional resistance, ensuring that the power output from the drive shaft is better delivered to the driven plate, preventing slippage. The belt groove here allows power to be output via a belt. The keyway here is used for mounting the output shaft of the power component and the drive shaft, and is used to install a key block to transmit torque.

[0006] Further improvements include the addition of arc-shaped grooves at the inner and outer ends of each sector block, and annular springs fitted onto these grooves on both the inner and outer sides of the drive shaft. The purpose of these arc-shaped grooves and annular springs on both sides of the drive shaft is to ensure that the sector blocks are evenly stressed when moving outwards by centrifugal force, preventing unilateral shifting and increased frictional wear on one side. Over time, this would cause the sector blocks to tilt, affecting the frictional area between the second and first friction plates.

[0007] Further improvements were made, with each drive block tilted to the left along the radial direction. The purpose of this leftward tilt is to ensure that when the drive shaft rotates, the drive block provides a component force along the tilt direction. This causes the sector blocks to be acted upon by centrifugal force and component force, which in turn causes the annular spring to be stretched open and move towards the circular notch contour surface. This prevents jamming and ensures that the second friction plate contacts the first friction plate, thereby causing the drive shaft to drive the driven disc to rotate.

[0008] Further improvements include a bushing at the front end of the drive shaft, with a second bearing installed on the bushing. The inner ring of the second bearing is fixed to the drive shaft. A set of connecting rods evenly distributed along the center of the driven disc is fixed between the bushing and the driven disc. The function of the bushing, the second bearing, and the connecting rods is to support the front end of the drive shaft, thereby achieving better stability during high-speed rotation and enabling the drive shaft to withstand greater torque loads.

[0009] The beneficial effects of this utility model are:

[0010] 1) The circular notch and the first bearing can be used to install the drive shaft into the circular notch; the drive block, the sector block, the arc groove, the through hole, and the arc notch can be used to install each sector block into the drive block, so that when the drive shaft rotates at high speed, it can move outward by centrifugal force.

[0011] 2) By using the arc groove and the ring spring, when the speed of the drive shaft decreases, the elastic restoring force of the ring spring can reset each sector block, thereby allowing each second friction plate to disengage from the first friction plate, and thus the power output by the drive shaft to disengage from the driven plate.

[0012] 3) The first and second friction plates provide strong frictional resistance, which allows the power output from the drive shaft to be better delivered to the driven disc, avoiding slippage; the belt groove allows the output of power through the installation of a belt; the keyway is used for installation between the output shaft of the power component and the drive shaft, and the keyway is used to install a key block to transmit torque. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 This is the front view of the present invention;

[0014] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of the present invention with the bushing, second bearing, and connecting rod removed.

[0015] Figure 3 This is a perspective view of the present invention from another side.

[0016] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of the sector-shaped block region in the utility model;

[0017] Figure 5 This is an exploded view of the present invention with the bushing, second bearing, and connecting rod removed.

[0018] Figure 6 This is a perspective view of the drive shaft of this utility model;

[0019] Figure 7 This is a perspective view of the sector-shaped block of this utility model.

[0020] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: driven disc 1, circular notch 1-1, first friction plate 1-1a, first bearing 2, drive shaft 3, driving block 3-1, keyway 3-2, sector block 4, arc groove 4-1, through hole 4-2, arc notch 4-3, arc groove 4-4, second friction plate 4-5, ring spring 5, bushing 6, second bearing 7, connecting rod 8. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0022] Referring to the attached diagram: This centrifugal clutch includes a driven plate 1 with a circular notch 1-1. A first bearing 2 is installed inside the driven plate 1. A drive shaft 3 is fixed to the inner ring of the first bearing 2. A set of driving blocks 3-1 evenly distributed along the center of the drive shaft 3 are fixed on the drive shaft 3. A set of sector blocks 4 located at the circular notch 1-1 are inserted into the drive shaft 3. Each sector block 4 has a circular arc groove 4-1 and a through hole 4-2 that longitudinally penetrates the circular arc groove 4-1. Block 3-1 passes through the arc groove 4-1 and fits into the through hole 4-2. Each sector block 4 has an arc notch 4-3 on its end face and an arc groove 4-4 on its end face. The side end of the drive shaft 3 is provided with an annular spring 5 that is sleeved in each arc groove 4-4. A first friction plate 1-1a is fixed in the arc notch 1-1 and a second friction plate 4-5 is fixed on the outer contour of each sector block 4. A belt groove 1-2 is opened on the driven disc 1 and a keyway 3-2 is opened on the drive shaft 3.

[0023] Each sector block 4 has an arc groove 4-4 at its inner and outer ends, and the drive shaft 3 has an annular spring 5 on both its inner and outer sides that is fitted into each arc groove 4-4.

[0024] Each drive block 3-1 is tilted to the left along the radial direction.

[0025] The front end of the drive shaft 3 is provided with a bushing 6, and a second bearing 7 is installed at the bushing 6. The inner ring of the second bearing 7 is fixed together with the drive shaft 3. A set of connecting rods 8 are fixed between the bushing 6 and the driven disk 1 and are evenly distributed along the center of the driven disk 1.

[0026] The working principle of this utility model is as follows: When the speed of the power component increases, the drive shaft 3 rotates through the connection between the power component output shaft and the drive shaft 3. The rotation of the drive shaft 3 generates centrifugal force. Under the action of centrifugal force and tilting force, the sector blocks 4 installed at the drive block 3-1 will move outward rapidly, compressing the annular spring 5 to store energy. After each sector block 4 moves outward, it will be pressed tightly against the first friction plate 1-1a by each second friction plate 4-5. Thus, the power output by the power component will quickly drive each sector block 4 to rotate through the drive block 3-1 on the drive shaft 3. Each drive block 3-1 tilts to the left along the radial direction. Therefore, when each drive block 3-1 drives each sector block 4 to rotate, there will be a squeezing outward force acting on each drive block 3-1. Therefore, the greater the required torque, the greater the generated force. This design ensures that the second friction plates 4-5 on each sector block 4 are firmly pressed against the first friction plate 1-1a of the driven disc 1. Therefore, even when high torque is required, the second friction plates 4-5 will not slip or burn against the first friction plate 1-1a. When the output shaft speed of the power component decreases and the centrifugal force is insufficient to support the elastic force of the ring spring 5, the sector blocks 4 are reset by the elastic force of the ring spring 5. As a result, the second friction plates 4-5 on the sector blocks 4 quickly disengage from the first friction plate 1-1a, and the power output by the drive shaft 3 is not transmitted to the driven disc 1. This invention provides rapid power response, smooth power transmission to avoid vehicle vibration during startup and operation, automatic power output via centrifugal force without the need for a clutch pedal, and high transmission torque, making it worthy of widespread application.

[0027] Although the present invention has been illustrated and described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that various changes in form and detail are possible within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A centrifugal clutch, comprising a driven disc (1), characterized in that: The driven disk (1) has a circular notch (1-1). A first bearing (2) is installed inside the driven disk (1). A drive shaft (3) is fixed to the inner ring of the first bearing (2). A set of driving blocks (3-1) are fixed on the drive shaft (3) and evenly distributed along the center of the drive shaft (3). A set of sector blocks (4) located at the circular notch (1-1) are inserted into the drive shaft (3). Each sector block (4) has a circular arc groove (4-1) and a through hole that longitudinally penetrates the circular arc groove (4-1). 4-2), the driving block (3-1) passes through the arc groove (4-1) and fits into the through hole (4-2), each of the fan-shaped blocks (4) has an arc notch (4-3) on its end face, and each of the notches (4-3) has an arc groove (4-4) on its end face. The side end of the driving shaft (3) is provided with an annular spring (5) sleeved in each of the arc grooves (4-4); a first friction plate (1-1a) is fixed in the arc notch (1-1), and a second friction plate (4-5) is fixed on the outer contour of each of the fan-shaped blocks (4); The driven disc (1) has a belt groove (1-2), and the drive shaft (3) has a keyway (3-2).

2. A centrifugal clutch according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each of the sector blocks (4) has an arc groove (4-4) at its inner and outer ends, and the drive shaft (3) has an annular spring (5) on its inner and outer sides that is sleeved at each of the arc grooves (4-4).

3. A centrifugal clutch according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each of the aforementioned drive blocks (3-1) is tilted to the left along the radial direction.

4. A centrifugal clutch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The front end of the drive shaft (3) is provided with a bushing (6), and a second bearing (7) is installed at the bushing (6). The inner ring of the second bearing (7) is fixed together with the drive shaft (3). A set of connecting rods (8) evenly distributed along the center of the driven disk (1) is fixed between the bushing (6) and the driven disk (1).

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